The community has a chance this week to meet the candidates for Great Falls Public Schools superintendent.

On Feb. 14 at 5:30 p.m., the district is hosting a community meet and greet with the two candidates in the Paris Gibson Education Center cafeteria.

On Feb. 15, the school board is conducting interviews with the candidates at the district office.

GFPS receives two superintendent applications; moving forward with interviews

In a statement, Gordon Johnson, school board chair, said the board was looking for to the public events, “giving our staff and community an opportunity to interact with each of these candidates.”

The board is scheduled to make a superintendent selection during a special meeting on Feb. 20.

Superintendent Tom Moore announced his retirement in the fall.

GFPS opens community survey for superintendent search

He was selected as superintendent in 2019.

The application deadline was Jan. 16 and the applicants for superintendent are Heather Hoyer, current assistant superintendent at GFPS, and Steven Mayhue, superintendent of Froid Public Schools in northeastern Montana.

GFPS approves salary range for superintendent search

In November, the school board hired the Montana School Boards Association to conduct the search for a new superintendent.

District staff worked with MTSBA to create a superintendent advertisement. The board budget committee met Dec. 5 and reviewed current AA superintendent salaries and recommended the salary range be $175,000 to $185,000.

The board approved that range and the advertisement during their Dec. 11 meeting.

Background on the candidates from the MTSBA is below.

GFPS hires consultant for superintendent search

Hoyer

• assistant superintendent at GFPS since July 2019
• worked for GFPS since 1996
• other district positions held: Great Falls High principal for four years, assistant principal at GFH for seven years, administrative intern for one year, science teacher for 11 years at Paris Gibson and East middle schools and GFH
• before GFPS, taught for White Pine County School District in Ely, Nev. and a dual credit instructor for Northern Nevada Community College, now Great Basin College
• master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Montana and bachelors in secondary science education.

Moore retiring as GFPS superintendent

Mayhue

• superintendent of Froid Public Schools since August 2023
• previously district assessment and curriculum director for Hardin Public Schools for one year
• assistant principal for Sheridan School District No. 2 in Wyoming for one year
• assistant principal and athletic director for Evergreen Elementary School District in Kalispell for three years
• math teacher for South Albany School District in Oregon for two years
• teacher, coach, summer school principal, district mentor for Natrona County School District No. 1 in Casper, Wyo. for 21 years
• has completed the required coursework for a Montana superintendent endorsement, awaiting transcripts for the official state endorsement
• K-12 principal endorsement from the University of Wyoming
• masters degree in teaching from Grand Canyon University in Arizona